The Lydia – A Sisterhood of Estonian Women Around the Globe
The launch event on July 3rd ignited meaningful connections and laid a strong foundation for the international Estonian women’s community, “The Lydia.” Founder Lisa Kivirist reflects on the gathering and the story behind this global sisterhood.
The magic of Laulupidu can wonderfully inspire ideas beyond song and dance. Taking advantage of the unique opportunity when many Estonian women were together in Tallinn for the Song and Dance Festival, an inaugural gathering took place to launch a new network and community connecting Estonian women: The Lydia: A Sisterhood of Estonian Women Around the Globe.
The name of this initiative, “The Lydia,” is inspired by Lydia Koidula — a prominent figure of the Estonian national awakening who courageously stood for cultural self-expression. In her spirit, we are creating this network to honor the generations of Estonian women before us and to harness that sisterhood energy in building our own legacy and community today and for the future.
Our first gathering on 3 July, organized with the support of the Integration Foundation, brought together over twenty Estonian women from seven different countries, as well as women who have returned to or are currently living in Estonia. Additionally, more than 50 others expressed interest in joining but were unable to attend in person — a clear sign of the strong need and enthusiasm for such a community.
Our time together focused on getting to know one another and sharing our diverse stories and life experiences. Although each participant came from different backgrounds, we were united by a strong common bond: a dedication to Estonia and a desire to maintain a connection to our roots.
A key aspect of The Lydia is that its programming is offered in English, creating a welcoming environment for women who may not have learned Estonian as children or who feel their language skills need refreshing. Language skills should not be an obstacle.
Kiirstin Marilyn, a singer-songwriter based in New York who was also singing in Laulupidu for the first time shares her enthusiasm for The Lydia:
“Being at the very first Lydia gathering was profoundly emotional for me as I didn’t grow up speaking Estonian nor was I deeply immersed in the culture, so for much of my life, I felt a quiet distance from my heritage — like I was looking in from the outside. But at this event, I felt completely welcomed and embraced. Meeting Estonian women from around the world, each on their own journey of connection or rediscovery, showed me that I’m not alone. There was such a powerful sense of belonging and support. It was inspiring, but even more than that, it was healing. I cannot wait for the next gathering and to continue building this community of Estonian women the world over.”
We look forward to offering a variety of future events for The Lydia, both virtual and in-person. These will include resources for language learning, workshops on exploring your family history, support for living and working in Estonia part-time, as well as joint events focused on food, crafts, and Estonian cultural heritage.
If you are an Estonian woman interested in staying connected through The Lydia, join our community:
👉 https://forms.gle/iNmSwidUJuoJb9189
